Find out how the O'Brien family had an unlikely hand in the breeding of Kameko
Qatar Racing-owned star shares his sire with the much-missed Roaring Lion
Kameko, one of 14 top-level performers by US turf sire extraordinaire Kitten's Joy, proved a cut above his rivals when landing the opening Classic of the British season, the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
The colt, who won the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at two, is owned by Qatar Racing, whose silks were previously carried by Kitten's Joy's highest-rated runner to date, the much-missed Roaring Lion.
Kameko got the better of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Wichita, a son of No Nay Never, by a neck, though was value for a greater margin of superiority.
Although the master of Ballydoyle missed out on training the winner of this year's 2,000 Guineas, his family did have a hand in breeding the rising star.
Despite her evident talent as a broodmare, Sweeter Still, a half-sister to Racing Post Trophy scorer Kingsbarns and the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial winner Belle Artiste, boasts a wildly varied sales history.
In 2014 she was bought by Royal Oak Farm for $750,000 at the Keeneland January Sale, but transferred to the ownership of Calumet Farm for a mere $35,000 in November 2016.
Even more remarkably, she was then sold on to T Lesley Thompson for only $1,500 in November 2018 when carrying to Optimizer, just two months after Redvers purchased Kameko.
Her 2019 yearling - a daughter of Big Blue Kitten, and therefore a close relation to Kameko - was bought by Atlantic Bloodstock for just $5,000 last September.
The filly is entered in the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale, due to be held in Doncaster on July 1, where she will be consigned by Church Farm and Horse Park Stud.
Kameko's victory also provided Rock Of Gibraltar with his first Classic success as a broodmare sire. Fittingly, he achieved that feat in a race he himself won in 2002 when beating Hawk Wing.
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Published on 6 June 2020inNews
Last updated 19:10, 6 June 2020
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